Marking machine



A. RUNTO MARKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TORNEY Aug. 29, 1944. RUNTON MARKING MACHINE Filed NOV. 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1944 M'ARKING MACHINE Leslie A. Runton, Dracut, Mass., asslgnor to M. T. Stevens & Sons.Co., North Andover, Masa,

a. corporation of Massachusetts Application November 19, 1942, Serial No. 486,207

3 Claims.

The invention relates to a marking machine especially adapted for marking Army blankets or other large piece material.

The marking of the Army blanket, due especially to its size and the requirement that the marking be at its center, has heretofore been accomplished manually by a marking iron wielded by hand, and was altogether a tedious and unsatisfactory operation. The blanket was removed from the measuring table, on which it was cut as to length from the piece, and removed to another table which was so fashioned as to provide access to the center of the blanket, the blanket being folded to receive the imprint. All this required various manual operations, or steps, apart from those attending the actual marking, and

- took considerable time.

Among the objects of the invention are:

To lessen the number of steps heretofore taken in the marking of the blanket, and make substantial reduction in the time element; this by marking the blanket while on the measuring table for cutting, and before its removal therefrom, by an operation substantially coincident with the cutting of the blanket, and requiring substantially no additional time than that heretofore taken for the cutting operation; and requiring no further attendants than those usually employed for drawing the blanket over the measuring table, positioning it thereon, cutting it, and removing it therefrom:

To provide an automatic machine for accomplishing the objects above referred to; one that may be actuated for efiecting the marking operation on any one blanket when positioned on the measuring table, and then reset for marking the next blanket as it becomes positioned, this under the manual remote control of one employed in the measuring and cutting operation.

A further object is to provide in the machine an arrangement whereby that portion of the blanket being marked will be fixedly held in place during the marking, and present a smooth flat face that will receive undistorted markings, and the markings will present sharply defined edges.

The invention can best be seen in the light of the machine for practicing it as shown in the drawings, and in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a measuring table, Preparatory to cutting, having associated with it 8 marking mechanism for practicing the invenflon, some parts of which machine are shown in Vertical section.

Fig. 2 is.a plan of the heated die and stripper assembly later to be referred to.

Fi 3 is a cross section on the line [-3 of Fig.2.

Fig.4 is a plan of a section of the pigmented strip later to be referred to.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of various elements which figure in the electrical control of certain operative parts of the machine later to be referred to.

Referring to the drawings: i represents a table on which the piece, or article, A, to be marked is arranged or spread. This table may be the measuring table for blankets cut from a piece drawn over the table, and positioned upon it, preliminary to cutting. The table has an openins 2 in it.

Located above the table is a frame 3. This frame is preferably supported from the ceiling of the room in which the table is located. by hangers 4. The frame is a stationary frame.

Home by the frame, in underslung relation to it, is a heating element, or die, 5. This die is made up of a set of plates, of which the plate 6 is secured to the frame by insertion of the edges of the plates in channeled supports 1 fixed to the frame and depending from it. To these supports the plate is fixedly, though removably, secured by means of thumb screws 8. This enables the plate and die to be changed as' occasion requires. Fixedly secured to the plate 6, preferably by bolts 9, is a die plate Hi. This die plate is provided on its side facing the table with a raised configuration H which correspond with the marking to be made on the article or blanket to be marked, and which may be letters, or other configuration, as the case may be. This raised configuration is hollowed out on its interior side to form cavities i2. Within these cavities are contained coils, or elements i3, that may be electrically heated in any suitable manner for heating the conflgurated surface of the die. An insulating plate It is inserted between the plates 6 and I 0, and held in place by the same bolt 9 which secures the plate [0 to the plate 6, all the plates being bound together.

Associated with the heated die is a stripper i5 which is provided with incisions or cutouts I6 like the configuration on the die, so that the stripper may enter the die and the configuration on the die enter and pass through the cutouts in the stripper when the stripper is displaced from the position in which it is normally retained, which is one spaced from the die. The stripper has afiixed to it upstanding plus I I which pass slidably through holes in the plate 6 of the die assembly. The ends of these pins are threaded and bear adjusting nuts II which bear against the plate 6.- Thus the stripper is hung from the plate 6 to occupy a spaced position with relation to this plate, and to the configurated portion of the die, the exact spaced position of the strip- Der being obtained through adjustment of the nuts i8. The stripper is yieldingly mounted in its normally adjusted position, and restored to such position, when displaced therefrom, by coiled springs i8 arranged upon the pins I! and inserted between the plate 8 and the stripper. Thus mounted the stripper may be displaced towards the die upon application of pressure to the stripper until it has entered the die, and the configuration thereon has passed through the cutouts in the stripper so that the face of the stripper will lie flush with the face to the configuration on the die. When the pressure is removed the stripper will at once return to occupy its spaced normal position. The stripper is normally located so far spaced from the top of the table as to allow the piece, from which the article, or blanket, is to be cut, to be conveniently drawn over the table.

Home by the frame 3 are supply and take-up rolls 20, 2 I, respectively, which carry a pigmented strip 22 having a series of pigmented configurations 23 thereon, which correspond with the configurations on the die, and the cutouts in the stripper. The strip, in its passage between the supply and take-up rolls, is drawn beneath the stripper i5, traversing its face, and in the operation of the machine the take-up roll is so operated as to impart an intermittent step by step movement to the strip so that at the end of any movement, or step, a pigmented section of the strip will be left on the face of the stripper, with the pigment configuration thereon in alignment with the configuration on the heated die, and cutouts in the stripper.

Arranged to become elevated from the opening 2 in the table is a combination lifter and presser element 25. This element comprises a plate 26 normally located to fill the opening in the table in continuation of the top surface thereof. The top plate is provided with flanges 21 which assist in guiding the element 25 during its elevation and return to its normal position. Bolted to the under side of the plate 26, by bolts 28, is a downwardly projecting arm 30 bearing a crosshead 3|. It is this crosshead that is bolted to the plate 26. The connection between the crosshead and the plate is preferably a yielding connection, the bolts 28 passing slidably through openings in the crosshead, with nuts 32 on the threaded shanks of the bolts bearing against the under side of the crosshead. Coiled springs 34 are arranged upon the shanks of the bolts between the plate 26 and the crosshead. Thus the arm 30 is yieldingly and adjustably fixed to the element 25. The element 25 is elevated, or lifted, by means of a lever 36 pivoted to a hanger 31 fixed to, and dependent from, the table, the outer end of the lever being pivoted to the arm 30. The arrangement is preferably one in which the element 25, after its elevation, will be allowed to drop, and resume its normal position, by gravity. In order that the element 25 may have precision of movement during its elevation and retraction, a link 38 is interposed between the arm 30 and the hanger 3'! and pivoted, respectively, thereto.

It will now be assumed that the take-up roll 2| has been moved in an amount sufficient to draw the pigmented strip 22 over the face of the stripper 15 so that the pigmented configuration on the strip will coincide with the raised configuration on the heated die, and with the cutouts in the stripper. It will, also, be assumed that the piece A, or work, to be out has been drawn over the measuring table, and positioned thereon, by those attending this table. preliminary to cutting. Substantially coincident with the cutting operation the lever 38 is actuated to elevate the combination lifter and presser element 25. The elevation of this element will elevate that portion of the piece which overlies the opening in the table, and portions immediately adjacent thereto, into a lifted position substantially as shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 1. That part of the piece thus raised, which covers the top surface of the element 25, which is the part to be marked, will 'then have become smoothed out and freed of any wrinkles ,or creases, and will be brought to bear, as the elevation of the element 25 is continued, against that section of the pigmented sheet which is traversing the face of the stripper ii, the pressure then exerted by the element 25 acting to hold this section of the pigmented strip fixedly in place. Further elevation of the element 25 will further raise the part of the piece to be marked, together with the section of the strip from which the marking is to be made, and

will displace the stripper to enter the die until the heated configuration on the die will engage the back of the pigmented section of the strip, whereupon the pigment thereon, which then lies coincident with the hot die, will become fluxed by the heat and transferred to the piece with which it is in contact. leaving the marking thereon. resume its normal position, when the cut article or piece may be removed from the table, for this marking operation takes but a few seconds, and is substantially coincident with the cutting operation.

The take-up roll 2| and the combination lifter and presser element 25 are electrically controlled.

The take-up roll is driven by an electric motor 40. The roll is arranged in a frame 4| with frictional bearing against a roll 42 driven by the motor, and against which bears a spring pressed roll 43. The pigmented sheet passes up between the rolls 42 and 43, and thence around the takeup roll on which it is wound as the take-up roll is turned by its frictional contact with the roll 42.

The lever 36 which elevates the combination lifter and presser element 25 is turned by means of a solenoid 45, the core 45 of which is connected to the lever by a link 41.

The passage of electric current for activating the electric motor and solenoid intermittently and in proper timed sequence, is under the master control of a timed delay relay 4!. In practice a time delay relay of the type shown in Letters Patent No. 2,171,347 is employed. In circuit connection with this relay is a push button 49. In the circuit between the relay and the solenoid is a magnetic switch 50, and in the circuit leading to the electric motor is a magnetic switch 51. Located also in the circuit leading to the motor is a switch 52 under control of a pigment spot I! on the pigmented sheet. when the circuit is closed by the push button, the relay 48 will close the switch 50, energizing the solenoid for a predetermined time. As the solenoid becomes energized it will operate through the lever 36 to elevate the combination lifter and presser element 25 for efiecting the marking operation, as previously explained, the pigmented sheet being held in contact with the hot die only so long as to After this the element 25 will drop and.

flux the pigment thereon, after which the solenoid will be de-energized through the operation of the relay, and the element 25 will drop and resume its normal position. At this time the relay will act to close the switch i and activate the motor and advance the pigmented sheet. The operation continues until the spot of pigment 53 on the pigmented sheet contacts with the switch 52, opening this switch, breaking the circuit, and stopping the motor, which ends the cycle of movement. Due to the overrun, or momentum, of the motor the pigment spot 53 will have been moved by the movement of the pigmented sheet beyond the switch 52 which will become closed in readiness for the completion of the next cycle movement. The relationship of the parts is such that the motor will, during any cycle of movement, move the pigmented sheet in an amount only suflicient that a pigmented section 23 thereon, in the part section of the sheet traversing the stripper, will have proper co-ordinated, aligned, position with the configuration on the heated die, and the cutouts in the stripper.

I claim:

1. In a marking machine the combination comprising a table over which the pieces of material to be marked are drawn, said table having an opening in it, a supporting frame located above the table, a heated die borne by the frame and occupying a position above the opening in the table, a stripperretained to occupy a position interposed between the opening in the table and the heated die and displaceable towards the die, a pigmented strip traversing the face of the stripper, means including supply and take-up rolls bearing the strip, a combination lifter and presser element adapted and arranged to be elevated from the opening in the table, an electric motor for turning the take-up roll whereby the pigmented strip will in successive part sections be drawn to overlie the face of the stripper and pigment on each overlying strip section occupy a determinate position with relation to the die, a solenoid for elevating said element whereby it will raise and thereby smooth the piece of material in the part thereof to be marked, press it against the section of the pigmented strip overlying the face of the stripper as aforesaid and hold said section of the pigmented strip fixedly in place and upon the continued elevation of said element displace the stripper and bring said overlying part section of the pigmented strip into contact with the heated die so that pigment on'said part section of the strip will be transferred to the piece in the part thereof to be marked, an electric circuit in operative connection with said motor and solenoid, respectively, mechanism whereby current upon the closing of said circuit will be controlled to activate said solenoid for a determinate interval of time for elevating said combination lifter and presser element to function as aforesaid and afterwards activate said motor to turn said take-up roll in an amount suflicient to draw a fresh pigmented section of said strip across the face of said stripper and position it as aforesaid during the return of said element, said mechanism including a time delay relay, means for closing said circuit, a switch for breaking said circuit and stopping said motor on the opening of said switch, and means borne by the pigmented strip for opening said switch and afterwards allowing its closure.

2. In combination with a measuring table for blankets cut from a piece drawn over the table and positioned thereon preliminary to cutting, said table having an opening in it, of a supporting frame located above the table, a heated die borne by the frame and occupying a position above the opening .in the table, a stripper retained to occupy a position interposed between the opening in the table and the heated die and displaceable towards the die, a pigmented strip traversing the face of the stripper, means including supply and take-up rolls bearing the strip, a combination litter and presser element adapted and arranged to be elevated from the opening in the table, an electric motor for tuming the take-up roll whereby the pigmented strip will in successive part sections be drawn to overlie the face of the stripper and pigment in each overlying strip section occupy a determinate position with relation to the die, a solenoid for elevating said element whereby it will raise and thereby smooth the piece of material in the part thereof to be marked, press it against the section of the pigmented strip overlying the face of the stripper as aforesaid and hold said section of the pigmented strip fixedly in place and upon the continued elevation of said element displace the stripper and bring said overlying part section of the pigmented strip into contact with the heated die so that pigment on said part section of the strip will be transferred to the piece in the part thereof to 'be' marked, an electric circuit in operative connection with said motor and solenoid, respectively, mechanism whereby current upon the closing of said circuit will be controlled to activate said solenoid for a determinate interval of time for elevating said combination lifter and presser element to function as aforesaid and afterwards activate said motor to turn said take-up roll in an amount sufiicient to draw a fresh pigmented section of said strip across the face of said stripper and position it as aforesaid during the return of said element, said mechanism including a time delay relay, means for closing said circuit, a switch for breaking said circuit and stopping said motor on the opening of said switch, and means borne by the pigmented strip for opening said switch and afterwards allowing its closure.

3. In a marking machine for transferring indicia by transfer process from a pigmented strip to pieces to be marked the combination comprising a table having an opening in it, a supporting frame located above the table, a heated die borne by the frame and occupying a position above the opening in the table, a stripper retained to occupy a position interposed between the opening in the table and the heated die and displaceable towards the die, a pigmented strip traversing the face of the stripper, means including supply and take-up rolls bearing the strip, a combination lifter and presser element adapted and arranged to be elevated from the opening in the table, an electric motor for tuming the take-up roll whereby the pigmented strip will in successive part sections be drawn to overlie the face of the stripper and pigment on each overlying strip section occupy a determinate position with relation to the die, a solenoid for elevating said element whereby it will raise the piece to be marked, press it against the section of the pigmented strip overlying the face of the stripper as aforesaid and hold said section of the pigmented strip fixedly in place and upon the continued elevation of said element displace the stripper and bring said overlaying part section of the pigmented strip into contact with the heated die so that p gment on said part section of the strip will be transferred to the piece to be marked, an electric circuit in operative connection with said motor and solenoid respectively, mechanism whereby current upon the closing of said circuit will be controlled to activate said solenoid for a determinate interval of time for elevating said combination lifter and presser element to function as aforesaid and afterwards activate said motor to turn-said takeup roll in an amount suflicient to draw a fresh pigmented section or said strip across the face of said stripper and position it as aforesaid during the return of said element, said mechanism including a time delay relay, means for closing said circuit. a switch for breaking said circuit and stopping said motor on the opening on said switch, and means borne by the pigmented strip for opening said switch and afterwards allowing its closure.

LESLIE A. BURTON. 

